Ratchet wrench



J. E. ERICKSQN RATCHET' WRENCH Filed Feb. 26

Patented Aug. 5, 1924.

UN-HTED sra res earner n in.

JOHN E. "ERIcKsoN, or nocnronn, ILLINOIS.

RATCI-IET WRENCH.

Application filed'il iebruary 26, 1923. Serial Ito/621,274.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that LJOHN E. E ncKso La citizen of the United'States, residing at 1 Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ratchet Wrenches, of which the following is a'specifi- 1 adapted to be removably retained inoperative position thereon, and ratchet .teeth at the base of the spindle adapted to be engaged by a sliding reversible pawl of novel construction permitting use ofja series of wrench-heads of diflerent sizes.

1 Another featureis the construction of the wrench-head spindles and ratchet-teeth of uniform dimensions and shaping of the handle so that its spindle-carrying en'dis of an outside dimension substantially equal to thato'f the'smallest wrench-head, thus allowing the wrench to be used in close corners.

With the 'smallestfwrenclrhead' for 7 small.

nuts, bolts, etc., and at the same time possessfling ample strengthiforithe'larger sizes ofwrench-heads. v I A further object resides in the'p'rovision m of a wrench constructionof the character described including an *BXlIQIlSlOIfShfi-Hk for use with the handle at a distance fromthe wrench-head. I Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated by those skilled in this j art as the invention becomes better under stood by'reference to the'=following descrip tion when considered in connection-with the 7 the line 3'3 of- Fig. 2;' i

gFig. a is a cross-sectional view taken.,on-. :theline l eeof-rFigg; v

. accompanying drawing,;- in which- Figure 1 is a side elevationof-a ratche wrenchembodying my invention;

. Fig. 2is atop view ofthe wrench; I i Fig. 3;is ,a longitudinal section takenon Figs-5 to 8 inclusive are top views of a series of wrench-heads of difierent sizes;

Figs. .9 to 12 inclusive are side views of said wrench-heads;'

Fig. 18 is a side view of an extension shank embraced by my invention; and

Figs. 14 and 15 are views of the top and bottom ends, respectively, of said extension shank. V I i The wrench head designated generally by .16, is preferably cylindrical and formed wlth a socket 17 in one end shaped to receive.

a nut or the like. This end of the wrenchhead may also be 'of the spanner type. The

oppositee'nd'of said head is machined by .turning, to provide a spindle 18, and has radial, parallel-side recesses 19 emanating fromthe spindle and forming ratchet teeth .21. The spindle 18 has an annular groove 22 for the reception'of-a retaining element which will be presently described.

The head 28 of a handle 24 is bored at 25 and 26, the former bor'e being for the reception of the wrench-head shank 18, and

the latter for a cylindrical pawl 27. The

handlehead carries a spring-pressed ball 28 urged into the groove 22 for preventing displacement of the spindle from lengthwise movement in the handle-head, but permit .3

ting rotation of the wrench-head on the handle and removal of the" latter from the former by pressure sufficient to overcome the spring pressure. hen in'the operative relation shown in Figs. l to 4L inclusive the underside of the handle-headbears against the adjacent endof the wrench-head, providingbearing between saidparts additional 'tothat on the spindle. 1

The pawl 27 has'at one end an elongated, diametrically disposed tooth 29 having a ratchet-tooth engaging face 31 and a beveled or curved face 32, the former being adapted for drivin or the wrench-head and the latter for riding dir the ratchet teeth when backing the handle on the wrenchhead. The opposite end of thepawl has a diametricalridge 33 against which bears the end 34of a flat spring 35, secured by a screw .36 to the-handle, said end 3a being shaped to. fit said pawl end 33 for holding the pawl against rotative movement from an opera swingingaprojectingpawlfinger 180 degrees in a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 2, and vice versa, without removing the pawl "or spring. It gbe manifest from the tive position. The pawl may be reversed by foregoing that a ratchet-wrench is provided, the wrench-head of which may be rotated in reverse directions controlled by the placement of the pawl 27.

My invention also contemplates the provision of a series of wrench-heads of difi'er- V radius thereof being substantially equal and at least not appreciably greater than that of the smallest wrench-head '16 shown in Figs.

' '5 and 9. This allows the wrench to be used larger sizes.

on small nuts and bolts in close corners, and

at the same time gives a handle-head of sufficient strength for the wrench-heads of Another feature 1s the provision of an extension shank 41- at present in the form of recesses 43 at one end and a spindle socket 44c, spring-pressed ball 45, and ratchet teeth 46 at its opposite end. The handle-head and pawl operate on the spindle end of said shank, as will be obvious, and the spindle of any wrench-head may be inserted into the socket 45 and connected to the shank by engagement of the teeth 46 in the recesses 19. This construction permits operation of any wrench-head from a remote point as is frequently desired.

It will be observed that the principles disclosed herein-enable the production of a handle and wrench-heads of simple construction, requiring comparatively little machining and that the parts are so associated I as to enable the transmission of pressures co-operating parts.

through the ratchet construction in reverse directions with but minimum wear on the Furthermore, the construction disclosed herein is especially well suited to the use of a series of wrench-heads of different sizes and shapes, and also to the use of an extension shank for the purpose described. 7 i

I It is believed that the foregoing conveys a clear understanding of the objects Drefaced above, and while I have illustrated but a single working embodiment, it should be understood that changes might be made in details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I' claim: v

1. A ratchet wrench comprising a cylindricalwrench-head shaped at one end to fit end adapted to engage ratchet teeth and a diametrical surface at its opposite end adapt ed by cooperation with a spring-pressed) element to hold the pawl from rotative displacement from either of two operativepositions, and a spring-pressed element shaped to fit said diametrical surface and bearing 'thereagainst for yieldingly'urgmgthe pawl into engagement with the ratchet teeth and permitting the pawl to be manually moved rotatably' in its boret'o tive positions.

2. A ratchet wrench comprising a cylindrical wrench-head shaped at one end to fit either of said operaan object to be turned and at its opposite end a solid rod having a spindle 42 and ratchet j,

to provide a concentric cylindrical spindle and 'aradial annular shoulderj'at the juncture of the spindle and wrench-headproper, 'saidg-shoulder, having circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth formed 7 therein reachingradially substantially from the spindle and having a diaimetrical tooth at one end adapted to. engage the ratchet teeth and a diametrical ridge at its opposite end, and a flat spring attached atone end to the handle andshaped at its opposite end to fit said .diametrical ridge for: yieldingly preventing rotative displacement of the pawl and for urging the latter, into engagement with the ratchet teeth, said spring permit ting the pawl to be manually moved rotatably for reversing the position of its driving face. V

' 3. A ratchet wrenchcomprising a cylindrical wrench-head shaped'at one end to fit an object to be turned and at its opposite end to provide a concentric cylindrical spindle and a'radial annular shoulder at the V juncture of. the spindle and wrench-head proper, said" shoulder having circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth formed therein reaching radially substantially from the spindle to'the periphery of the wrenchehead proper, a handle having, adjoining parallel boresin one end. one for rotatably receiving sa d spindle and the other a pawl, a cylindrlcal pawl slidable lengthwise an l'Ol atable in the second mentioned bore and having a rotative displacement of the latter but pew diametrioal tooth at one end adapted to enmitting it to be manually moved rotatably gage the ratchet teeth, a spring-pressed elefor reversing the position of its driving face, 10

inent operative between the handle and pawl and a finger fixed to and extending from the for yieldingly urging the latter into engagepawl and adapted to be manipulated for ment with the ratchet teeth and shaped in reversing the pawl.

its connection with the pawl for preventing JOHN E. ERICKSON. 

